What's the Average Age of Marriage in the US? Our Data Reveals The Number

What's the average age of marriage in the US right now? If you've already tied the knot, you may be curious to know how you compare to your married peers. But if you're single (and fielding pressure to catch up to an ambiguous "life timeline" you've created for yourself), you might want to know how you're pacing. The topic of the average age of marriage in America can be a spicy one, especially if you've ever found yourself falling down the online rabbit hole of discourse on the state of dating today or the evolving lifestyle choices between generations. (Gen Z has recently emerged into the marrying age, and just like they've completely revamped wedding traditions, they possess the ability to alter other behavioral trends in the coming years.)

In order to source the average age of marriage in the US, our research team surveyed roughly 17,000 couples across the United States who got married last year as part of The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study. Read on to learn more about the average age of marriage below, broken down by state and region.

In this article:

• The Average Age of Marriage in the US
• The Average Age to Get Married By Region
• The Average Age to Get Married By State
• Common Questions About Age & Marriages

The Average Age of Marriage in the US

In 2025, the average age of marriage in the US is 32. This number has held steady since 2023, though it had a slight increase from the average age of marriage in 2022, which was 31.

While the majority of participants in our 2025 Real Weddings Study reported it was their first marriage, the marrying age is influenced by a variety of factors. Overall societal behavioral patterns, including an evolving workforce and a stronger sense of self-sufficiency for this demographic, play a role in influencing the average age of marriage in the US. "Life is not so traditional anymore," says Kathleen Entwistle, Private Wealth Advisor and Managing Director of Sports and Entertainment at Morgan Stanley. "Many couples are both working, therefore they are getting married for the first time later."

There's also a new factor that's starting to come into play: the slightly larger Gen Z cohort (born between 1997 and 2012) entering the marriage market. It's too early to say whether this generation will significantly alter the average age of getting married in the US. After all, couples are, on average, continuing to marry in their early thirties according to our study.

The reason that so many couples are getting married later in life may very well be due to science. "We're realizing that the brain doesn't fully develop until people are around 25 years of age, which is very different from how people used to think about adulthood, which was 18 or college age," says New York-based clinical psychologist Dr. Lara Friedrich. "People are taking longer to find themselves, which is a good thing. By the time people are getting married, they have a better sense of who they really are, meaning they're more secure in their career and their sense of self the older they get. And that helps them make good decisions with their life partner."

The current average age of marriage might also be impacted by the cost of living. Year after year, our Real Weddings Study finds that more couples are contributing to the total cost of their wedding (which our data shows is $33,000, on average) as opposed to solely relying on parents to fund the nuptials. Considering our data finds the average engagement length is 15 months, more couples may be taking that time to save up for their dream wedding. "The finances of each family can also be a factor," Entwistle speculates. "When the average age of marriage increases, couples tend to take more ownership in both the details of the wedding, as well as the sharing of the expenses."

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The Average Age to Get Married By Region

Photo: Luminaire Foto

One not-so-surprising fact is that the average age of marriage varies by region. Among the couples we surveyed, the average age of marriage was highest in the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic and the West; It was lowest in the South/Southeast. Regionality certainly has its impact on a variety of factors related to wedding planning, including the average cost of a wedding, the average number of guests and, of course, the average age of marriage.

"Even micro-regional influence counts," says Dr. Friedrich, who also attributes education level and socioeconomics as top factors that play into the overall formula of marriage age. "And if you work with clients who are religious, there might be the possibility of lower averages in the age of marriage." See how the average marriage age breaks down per region below.

• Northeast/New England: 35
• Mid-Atlantic: 35
• Midwest: 33
• South/Southeast: 32
• Southwest: 33
• West: 35

The Average Age to Get Married By State

Photo: Luna de Mare Photography

According to The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, the average age of marriage does vary state-by-state. While this can be attributed to different ways of life across regions, it can also be directly impacted by those in your community. "There's research on this that shows people are very influenced by their peers," says Dr. Friedrich. "There's a very real peer effect where people see their friends and inner circle getting married and that can cause more pressure. People's influence on each other and their social circles can be very strong."

• Alabama, 29
• Alaska, 31
• Arizona, 32
• Arkansas, 29
• California, 34
• Colorado, 33
• Connecticut, 34
• Delaware, 35
• District of Columbia, 35
• Florida, 33
• Georgia, 31
• Hawaii, 32
• Idaho, 30
• Illinois, 32
• Indiana, 30
• Iowa, 30
• Kansas, 29
• Kentucky, 30
• Louisiana, 33
• Maine, 30
• Maryland, 34
• Massachusetts, 33
• Michigan, 31
• Minnesota, 30
• Mississippi, 31
• Missouri, 31
• Montana, 29
• Nebraska, 29
• Nevada, 34
• New Hampshire, 32
• New Jersey, 34
• New Mexico, 34
• New York, 33
• North Carolina, 32
• North Dakota, 30
• Ohio, 31
• Oklahoma, 30
• Oregon, 33
• Pennsylvania, 32
• Rhode Island, 33
• South Carolina, 31
• South Dakota, 29
• Tennessee, 30
• Texas, 31
• Utah, 28
• Vermont, 33
• Virginia, 32
• Washington, 33
• West Virginia, 30
• Wisconsin, 32
• Wyoming, 30

Common Questions About Age & Marriages

Now that you know the average age of a marrying couple in the US, other questions may arise around the topic. Here, we answer some of the most frequent inquiries regarding marriage and the age of it all.

What is the most common age to get married in the US?

Since our study presents statistics from the American population, we can also use that number to say that the most common age to get married in the US is 32. However, since our insights come from a small selection of couples, there are other outlets to look to for a broader scope—but even those numbers mirror ours. According to data from The US Census Bureau, the median age for marriage in 2024 was just over 28 years old for women and approximately 30 years old for men.

What are the odds of getting married after 30?

If you find yourself frantically Googling, "What are the odds of getting married after 30?" first, take a deep breath. Considering our data shows that the average age of marriage is 32—with that number reaching the mid-30s in many regions—you very well can get married after 30.

For further proof, we can look to a study conducted by sociologists Susan L Brown, I-Fen Lin and Kagan A Mellencamp, which explored the rising midlife first marriage rate in the US. Based on data from 1990 to 2019, the survey found that the midlife first marriage rate increased by 75% for women and 45% for men. What's more, the shares of women and men entering a first marriage between the ages of 40 to 59 quadrupled between 1990 and 2019 (rising from 2% to 9% among women and from 3% to 12% among men). So, there you have it: Data suggests that you can get married after 30 (and even into your middle-aged years).

Are marriage and divorce rates declining for Millennials?

Millennial marital success and divorce rates are still being reviewed by researchers, but there is one strong habit to properly form from the onset of marriage (and the relationship itself). "Communication is key," says Dr. Friedrich. "Communicating with each other allows you to listen, avoiding defensiveness, criticism, stonewalling and contempt are four things that lead couples down the road to divorce, according to the Gottman Institute [a research-based theory that focuses on marital stability]. Taking time to speak and communicate in a way that is meaningful can be useful."

Additional reporting by Esther Lee.